Zuckerberg meets some of Indonesia's Facebook fans

JAKARTA

By Ainur Rohmah

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg met some of his site’s 69 million Indonesian users Monday as he paid an impromptu visit to a shopping center with President-elect Joko Widodi.

The 30-year-old billionaire is in the region to boost Internet access among the two-thirds of the world's population that cannot connect to the web.

Indonesia, with a population of 250 million, still has a relatively low level of Internet use, with 168 million unable to log on. Of the 82 million online users, more than four-fifths use the social network every month.

Despite this, Indonesia is home to the world’s fourth-largest number of Facebook users.

After a press conference at Jakarta’s City Hall, Widodo said the pair had agreed to cooperate on using social media to drive small scale economic growth and on tax issues relating to online access.

“We talked about Facebook users in Indonesia and how to use Facebook to push [the] micro-economy,” Widodo, known as Jokowi, was quoted as saying by the Jakarta Post newspaper.

“He said he was ready to work with the government. There are 70 million Facebook users in Indonesia, which provides great market potential. But I told him that [Indonesia] should also benefit.”

Jokowi took Zuckerberg to Tanah Abang shopping center for what is known locally as a 'blusukan.' These informal walks to meet ordinary Indonesians were a mark of Jokowi’s relaxed style during the summer’s presidential election campaign.

Zuckerberg, better known for his informal dress code of T-shirt and jeans, looked smart in a black suit, white shirt and tie.

However, the media tycoon’s appearance made little impression on locals during the 15-minute walkabout. “I don’t know who that is,” Aisyah told the Post, when asked about Jokowi’s guest.

Earlier, Jokowi had highlighted the importance of Facebook in the presidential campaign, during which it provided a platform for debate as well as information about the candidates and their policies.

Zuckerberg said Internet access could be used to "communicate with the public about major concerns, growing business and looking for jobs, and also for direct dialogue with leaders."

Zuckerberg arrived in Indonesia Sunday and posted photographs of his sunrise visit to Borobudur temple on his Facebook page.

The internet.org project, a global initiative aimed at promoting access to affordable Internet services, will meet local operators and application developers during Zuckerberg's visit.

www.aa.com.tr/en